Mixtape of Motherhood

I can sing more Kidz Bop versions of popular songs than I can sing the original lyrics. While Bruno Mars sings about “strawberry champagne on ice,” the kids and I are singing about “strawberry milkshakes so nice.” When the kids aren’t in the car, I’ve caught myself singing along in error to the original songs because I’m singing the kid-friendly version.

My kid-friendly music repertoire doesn’t end with Kidz Bop. I’m well versed in the playlist from Moana and “Know Who You Are” makes me weepy every time I hear it. The soundtracks from Descendants 1 and 2 are on regular repeat and I admittedly totally jam out to “Chillin Like A Villian.” On a recent road trip, our family was rocking out to the Wiggles hit song, “Hot Potato.” I haven’t met a Laurie Berkner song I don’t like. However, I do have my limits, and I totally draw the line at the song, “I Am A Gummy Bear,” because it makes my skin crawl.

When the kids are out of the car, it’s game on for my own music. Just because I listen to kids music doesn’t mean I’ve completely checked out of music in its entirety. I have to have my music. Whether it is seasonal, something to keep me productive, or dancing in my living room, I always have a playlist.

When I was a teenager, I would make mixtapes. I would sit in my room and record my favorite songs off the radio with my tiny cassette player. Later, I’d play the music loud and sing along with my bedroom door shut.

The playlists I make now are my adult version of those lists I’d make years ago. My mixology is more dignified as now I can just choose my favorite songs in Spotify and play it through my phone in my earbuds or through my Bluetooth in the car. Teenage me would be going bananas about this break in technology.

What would my mixtape of motherhood sound like? What songs would be on a motherhood playlist? It would change over time, wouldn’t it? I had a birth playlist for each child, and now, when things have been overwhelming, I have a playlist called, “You Can Do This.” Just as seasons and years change, so does my motherhood and the music that I need to get through it. Music is part of my self-care routine, and music playlists are important to me in motherhood.

If I had to create a mixtape in motherhood, here’s what would be on it. There are songs to celebrate and savor motherhood and there are songs to lift me up when I feel defeated, which happens quite often. The songs on this playlist are songs I can loudly sing to and the best of all, there are no swear words so it’s a safe music list to have on in the car when my kids are with me. Below are the songs right now on my mixtape of motherhood and my favorite lyrics from the songs. If you want all these songs in one place, you can listen to my Spotify playlist here.

Mixtape of Motherhood
Title, Artist listed below

• Alone, Trampled by Turtles

“The days and nights are killing me
The light and dark are still in me
But there’s an anchor on the beach
So let the wind blow hard
And bring a falling star”

• Blue, Beyonce

“Sometimes these walls seem to cave in on me
When I look in your eyes, I feel alive
Some days we say words that don’t mean a thing
But when you holding me tight, I feel alive”

• Time After Time, Iron & Wine

“If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time”

• Dog Years, Maggie Rogers

“And if you had a bad week
Then I’ll sing you to sleep
Oh, and I’ll be there waiting
If you start to get jaded
I know things are changing
But, darling, I’m saying
I’ve been here all along”

• Ho Hey, The Lumineers

“I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart
Love. We need it now
Let’s hope for some
‘Cause, oh, we’re bleeding out”

• Diamonds, Rihanna

“Find light in the beautiful sea, I choose to be happy
You and I, you and I, we’re like diamonds in the sky”

• Complicated Creation, Cloud Cult

“You know you are as small as the things you let annoy you. 
And you know you are gigantic as the things that you adore.” 

• Latch, Disclosure featuring Sam Smith

“You lift my heart up
When the rest of me is down
You, you enchant me, even when you’re not around.”

• Don’t Let Me Down, The Chainsmokers

“I need you, I need you, I need you right now
Yeah, I need you right now
So don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me down”

• Lost in My Mind, The Head and the Heart

“Put your dreams away for now
I won’t see you for some time
I am lost in my mind
I get lost in my mind
Momma once told me
You’re already home where you feel love”

• Breathe, Telepopmusik

“Another day, just believe,
Another day, just breathe
Another day, just believe,
Another day, just breathe.”

• Lovely Day, Bill Withers

“When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the way
Then I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day.”

What’s on your mixtape of motherhood? Is there one song that will always be on it?